Hmm, I'm still not entirely sure how I ended up where I did. Went from college to an internship, then lab work, Americorps, and wound up in bio consulting. 4 years later I'm still doing that and trying to expand a bit.

The only issue there is that to expand I need experience, permits, and certifications. To get a permit for ONE species you have to spend 25 hours with an already permitted bio observing it in the wild. Of course, it varies from species to species, but the more you have the more in-demand you become.

Next on my list is certified arborist, that could bump my pay by a couple thousand a year (negotiations willing).

At any rate, it's an interesting field and I certainly am not going brain dead behind a cashier register like I did way back in high school... ugh, never going retail again.

It's interesting seeing what everyone does here in the TW. I have yet to see one of my own profession in here though... they have to be around. WHERE ARE YOU, WE ALL HAVE TACO'S?!

I grew up with a lot of opportunities. I traveled the world and lived overseas as a kid. My dad's job moved us to japan. (civilian job, not military) I had a lot of chances to truly see the world and what makes the United States such a great place to live.

I joined the military during college to get myself a step ahead of my peers. While others drank during the week, before tests, and got easy schedules to sleep in, I was both in the National Guard and the ROTC department at my school. I got first hand experience being enlisted in the guard before making it to E5 and I just recently graduated college and commissioned as a 2LT into the CA National Guard. I am an 11A, Infantry Platoon Leader. Using my Criminal Justice Degree, I hope to join law enforcement after serving sometime, working full-time for the National Guard.

I'm currently a GBR, Gold Bar Recruiter for the CA Guard, working with HS and College students to encourage and educate students on the opportunities the CA Guard offers as an officer. I have already looked into graduate school, and will be pursuing a masters, paid for by the Army. I get to live in the same house, close to family and friends, all while receiving active duty pay. I leave for Ft. Benning, GA in March for more training, Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course, Ranger School, and Pathfinder School. I am already Airborne qualified and have orders to Air Assault in the works.

The biggest thing I can say, with any job really, is network yourself and get yourself options. I love my career choice with the CA Guard and Law Enforcement. If one gets slow and not appealing, I can focus on the other for a bit.

I grew up with a lot of opportunities. I traveled the world and lived overseas as a kid. My dad's job moved us to japan. (civilian job, not military) I had a lot of chances to truly see the world and what makes the United States such a great place to live.

I joined the military during college to get myself a step ahead of my peers. While others drank during the week, before tests, and got easy schedules to sleep in, I was both in the National Guard and the ROTC department at my school. I got first hand experience being enlisted in the guard before making it to E5 and I just recently graduated college and commissioned as a 2LT into the CA National Guard. I am an 11A, Infantry Platoon Leader. Using my Criminal Justice Degree, I hope to join law enforcement after serving sometime, working full-time for the National Guard.

I'm currently a GBR, Gold Bar Recruiter for the CA Guard, working with HS and College students to encourage and educate students on the opportunities the CA Guard offers as an officer. I have already looked into graduate school, and will be pursing a masters, paid for by the Army. I get to live in the same house, close to family and friends, all while receiving active duty pay. I leave for Ft. Benning, GA in March for more training, Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course, Ranger School, and Pathfinder School. I am already Airborne qualified and have orders to Air Assault in the works.

The biggest thing I can say, with really job is network yourself and get yourself options. I love my career choice with the CA Guard and Law Enforcement. If one gets slow and not appealing, I can focus on the other for a bit.

Plus, we get to do some gnarly shit in the Infantry.

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Great post, Ted. It's refreshing to see young men like yourself striving to become leaders and staying committed to achieving goals.

You're already doing great things, and will continue doing great things!

I haven't gotten there yet, but I am dead set on becoming an electrical lineman for either Northwestern Energy or another big energy corporation. I really didn't decide on it, it just popped into my head one afternoon while I was messing around on my computer and seemed like it was my calling. The more I researched it, the more I like it. Being a lineman is one of those careers that has excellent pay and benefits, does not take 4 years and a bachelor's to get into, and is recession proof work. Electricity and petroleum are the two top sources of energy in this world and without them our way of life would end almost instantly and we'd go back to being cave dwellers basically. Only real downside to being a lineman would be the risk side of it, but none of the local lineman around where I live have ever been injured on the job, you just gotta have some common sense and a brain in your skull.